PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 No. 5 November 2001, pp. 1062-1071
Botulinum Toxin Type A Neuromuscular Blockade in the Treatment of Equinus Foot Deformity in Cerebral Palsy: A Multicenter, Open-Label Clinical Trial
Received Oct 27, 2000; accepted Apr 23, 2001.
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From the * Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest
University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina;
Background. Focal spasticity of the
gastrocnemius-soleus muscles causes equinus gait in children with
cerebral palsy (CP). Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A), a neuromuscular
blocking agent, reduces muscle tone/overactivity in dystonia, stroke,
and CP.
Objective. A prospective, open-label, multicenter clinical
trial evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of repeated
intramuscular injections of BTX-A on equinus gait in CP children.
Methods. Nine centers enrolled 207 children. BTX-A
injections (4 U/Kg) were given approximately every 3 months (maximum
dose 200 U per treatment). Outcome measures included a Physician
Rating Scale of gait, ankle range of motion measurements, and the
incidence and profile of adverse events.
Results. One hundred fifty-five (75%) of 207 children
completed at least 1 year with a total of 302 patient years of BTX-A
treatment. The mean duration of BTX-A exposure was 1.46 years per
patient. Dynamic gait pattern on the Physician Rating Scale improved in 46% of patients (86/185) at first follow-up. The response was maintained in 41% to 58% of patients for 2 years. Both gait pattern and ankle position improved at every visit. The most common
treatment-related adverse events included increased stumbling, leg
cramps, leg weakness, and calf atrophy in 1% to 11% of patients. No
treatment-related serious adverse events were reported. Only 6%
(7/117) of patients with pre- and postantibody samples had both
detectable antibodies and a subsequent treatment failure.
Conclusion. BTX-A proved both safe and effective in
the chronic management of focal muscle spasticity in children
with equinus gait.
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana;
§ Children's Hospital of Orange County, Irvine, California;
Children's Hospital, San Diego, California; # Newington Children's
Hospital, Newington, Connecticut; ¶ Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation
Center, Toronto, Canada; ** Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New
York; 
Clinical Neurologica, Policlinic, Italy; §§ Fundacion
Jiminez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain; and
|| Allergan, Inc, Irvine, California.
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